Klopp’s Liverpool coup: What did his first starting line-up look like?

Jürgen Klopp has been Liverpool’s coach since 2015 and has done a great job in that time. He has turned a mediocre team into Champions League and Premier League winners, and currently the Reds are one of the best in the world. But what were Klopp’s beginnings at Anfield like?

A close battle with Manchester City for the Premier League, a Champions League semi-final, an FA Cup final, an EFL Cup winner. Liverpool are on the cusp of a historic achievement, winning all four major competitions they start in.

He is destroying opponents with his offensive football, and fans have raised their hands 83 times in the league. The second best offensive team in the competition, Manchester City, has scored 11 goals less. Of those, 9 came in the net of Manchester United, the Reds’ historic rival.

But a few years back, things weren’t so smooth. When Jürgen Klopp took over Liverpool, the club had been mired in mediocrity for several years, from which it could not find a way out. Liverpool’s management made a brilliant move by putting the rebuilding of the team in the hands of a promising coach who had captivated the world at Borussia Dortmund. And gave him the resources and, more importantly, the time to rebuild the squad to suit himself.

Before the reinforcements arrived to Klopp’s liking, the German coach had to make do with what he had. And so his first starting line-up looked like this.

Mignolet
Clyne – Skrtel – Sakho – Moreno
Leiva – Emre Can
Lallana – Coutinho – Milner
Origi

Bench: Bogdan, Toure, Randall, Allen, Ibe, Teixeira, Sinclair

There are only two players left in the squad from the then squad. James Milner and Divock Origi. Both were instrumental in Liverpool’s subsequent success, especially the Champions League title, but now they are far from the starting line-up.

Current Liverpool

Of course, success didn’t come straight away. But Klopp, with gradual steps, formed a competitive team that won its first trophy under the German coach in 2019.

First, Klopp found quick wingers, Salah and Mané, who drag the team with their goals. The next step was to find attacking wing-backs who can support the offense in addition to the defense. This has worked out great with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.

The offense was clicking, the defense less so, so we needed to invest in the defensive line. So in January 2018, Klopp cracked the piggy bank and in came stopper Virgil van Dijk for a staggering £75m. That was a key signing, and since then Liverpool have finally started to rise. They reached the Champions League final, but lost to Real Madrid, partly due to insane mistakes from goalkeeper Loris Karius.

So it was time for the final piece of the puzzle, and that was goalkeeper Alisson. He arrived in July 2018, just a few weeks after the botched Champions League final. And it finally came. Liverpool won the Champions League the following season, and dominated the Premier League the following season. And this year, it’s back in the hunt for both competitions.

The line-up has changed beyond recognition since the first, leaving no stone unturned. Liverpool went into their last game against Manchester United with this line-up.

Klopp thus proved that he is a master at rebuilding a squad. He has turned Liverpool into a fearsome colossus that is attacking all the trophies. How many will there be at Anfield at the end of the season?

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